Container closure device

ABSTRACT

The closure device may be used to seal bottles or other liquid containers, while avoiding contamination by 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA). The closure device may include a sleeve that is inserted into the neck of a bottle. A stopper may be inserted into the sleeve to seal the bottle. To prevent TCA contamination, the stopper may include a stopper cap made of a TCA scavenger material, providing a barrier between the stopper and the contents of the bottle. A filter may be added to remove particulates and impurities from the contents when poured from the unstoppered bottle. Various types and shapes of filters may be used, and the filter may include a spring or other movement assistance or a ventilation mechanism. In some embodiments, the sleeve may be removably attached to the bottle, such as by interfacing threading, or to the filter, such as by frangible connectors.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/975,240, filed Apr. 4, 2014, and U.S. Provisional Application No.61/871,680 filed Aug. 29, 2013, the entirety of which are incorporatedby reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a closure device forbottles, such as those traditionally used for storing wine, and othercontainers of liquids.

BACKGROUND

Most bottles are closed with either a stopper or a cap. Both have beenused in various forms since antiquity to seal in liquids such as oil andwine and to seal out contaminants such as dust, pollen, and air. Amongthese many liquids, wine presents particular challenges because of thewidespread use of cork stoppers for historical reasons. Wine producershave struggled to find containers capable of protecting their beveragefrom the ravages of oxygen and other impurities, using skins, pots, andcasks at various times. When the hotter coal fired furnace was inventedin the 17th century it allowed for the creation of a thicker and darkerglass, since which time glass bottles have predominated in the storageof wine and have been used with a wide range of other liquids, includingwater, oils, carbonated beverages, beer, and liquor. Other types ofbottles are also known, including plastic bottles, which typicallyinclude a screw cap. Glass bottles, however, are typically sealed witheither a screw cap or a cork stopper, although stoppers of othermaterials have been tried for some uses. Cork stoppers, however, remainthe predominant means of closing wine bottles for a combination ofhistorical, practical, and aesthetic reasons.

Screw caps have gained popularity as a viable alternative to seal winebottles in recent years because of the susceptibility of traditionalcorks to contamination from various sources. Of particular concern aredefective corks infected with 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA). Winecontaminated with TCA, commonly referred to as “corked” wine, exhibits aharmless but offensive odor similar to that of a wet newspaper or amoldy basement. Wine loss due to TCA is not new, but it becamewidespread in the 1980s when the demand for cork exceeded the industry'sability to produce high-quality closures. Numerous wineries began usingscrew caps as an alternative to cork stoppers to prevent TCAcontamination. Although screw caps thus eliminate one source of TCAcontamination, other sources of contamination may taint the wine withTCA prior to or during bottling. Therefore, screw caps alone do notsolve the problem of TCA contamination.

In addition to susceptibility to TCA, the use of cork stoppers alsotypically necessitates the use of a cork screw or other apparatus toopen a sealed bottle. Removing a cork stopper thus damages the stopper,both impairing its ability to reseal the bottle adequately andpotentially introducing complications to the process of opening thebottle. During removal of a cork stopper, the cork stopper occasionallybreaks, with a portion of the stopper still forming a seal, or crumbles,leaving small pieces of cork in the wine. Despite this, the act ofremoving a cork stopper has acquired an aesthetic or ceremonialsignificance that cannot be recreated with screw caps. Additionally,screw caps have long been dogged by a connotation of low quality,particularly with respect to wines. In addition to offering someprotection from TCA, the lack of a cork stopper allows screw caps to bereliably and cleanly removed. Screw caps also offer the advantage ofbeing able to be opened by hand, without additional equipment. For thereasons just discussed, however, this can be both an advantage and adisadvantage.

Bottles today are generally closed with either a cork stopper or a screwcap, so bottlers must choose between the advantages described above foreach. In situations where TCA is a major concern or where it isdesirable to open the bottle without additional equipment, a screw capis often used. In other situations, a cork stopper is often used. Thebottler must, however, choose between these alternative closuremechanisms.

In addition to TCA contamination and opening mechanics, bottles andbottle closures must be able to remain in place for many years, as winesare typically stored for some years to allow them to age. During thisaging process, sediment and fine particulates may settle out of thewine. These may be stirred up again when the bottle is handled andopened, or when the wine is poured. Therefore, filtration may bedesirable in some situations. Filtration may likewise be desirable forother types of bottled liquids that may contain particulates orsediment, like beer. Filtration of such bottled liquids typicallyinvolves pouring the contents of the bottle through a separate filter toremove particulates prior to use.

In addition to removing particulates, filtration can be used to removesome chemical impurities in wine or other liquids, including beer. TCAmay be remediated in various ways, including the addition of pellets orgrains of TCA scavenger materials to contaminated wine. This process isslow, however, and may require the removal of TCA scavenger materialfrom the wine after it has been healed. Other TCA healing methodsinclude dipping stirring rods made of TCA scavenger material into thecontaminated wine, likewise requiring an additional step to heal thewine. Similarly, TCA contamination may be removed by pouringcontaminated wine through a filter, although this process is typicallyslow and requires that additional steps be taken.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, one embodiment of the disclosed bottle closuredevice includes a sleeve fitted to insert into the opening of a bottleand a stopper fitted to insert into the sleeve, such that thecombination of the sleeve and stopper forms a removable seal to closethe bottle. The stopper may include a stopper cap in some embodiments,which may be made of contaminant scavenger materials, such aspolyethylene or zeolites, which are scavengers of TCA, to form a barrierbetween the stopper and the contents stored within the interior of thebottle. In some embodiments, the stopper cap may further allow thepassage of gas between the stopper and the interior of the bottle. Insome embodiments, the sleeve may fit within a neck of the bottle, whichmay also contain an internal shoulder protruding from the interiorsurface of the neck. In some embodiments, the sleeve may be connected tothe neck by a threading, comprising a threaded portion on the interiorof the neck into which a threaded portion on the exterior of the sleevemay be inserted. In further embodiments, the threading may comprise athreaded portion on the exterior of the neck that may insert into athreaded portion on the interior of a portion of the sleeve (e.g., theinterior of a portion of the sleeve that extends over the lip of thebottle and around the exterior of the portion of the neck of the bottleadjacent to the lip).

In some embodiments, the bottle closure device may further include afilter to remove sediment and impurities from the contents of thebottle. The filter may be made of any material, including the following:a mesh, a sieve, a membrane, a lattice, a basket, a cloth, or a sponge.Some or all of the filter may comprise a scavenger material such aspolyethylene or zeolites to remove TCA or other chemical contaminantsfrom the contents of the bottle. The filter may also include a spring, aventilation tube, a ventilation mechanism, or a mechanism applyingtension to the filter. In one embodiment, the filter may be connected tothe stopper cap and stored within a filter base connected to the sleeve,such that when the stopper is removed, the filter is caused to move fromthe filter base into the sleeve. In some embodiments, the filter mayabut one or both of the sleeve or the internal shoulder of the bottle,and the filter may be connected to the internal shoulder of the bottleby one or more of the following: adhesive, tabs, hooks, threading,clips, flanges, friction, or tension. In one embodiment, the filter maybe further connected to the sleeve by one or more frangible connectors,such that the frangible connectors break and cause the filter and thesleeve to decouple when the sleeve is removed from the neck, leaving thefilter within the bottle.

In another embodiment, the disclosed bottle closure device includes aremovable cap fitted to seal an opening of the bottle and a liningfitted to form a barrier between the interior of the removable cap andthe interior of the bottle, such that the combination of the lining andthe removable cap forms a removable seal to close the bottle. The bottleclosure device may include a filter, as above, which may be disposedwithin the neck of the bottle. The filter may be connected to the neckby various means, including one or more of the following: an adhesive, atab, a hook, a threading, a clip, a flange, or by friction or tensionbetween the filter and the neck. Some or all of the filter or the liningmay comprise polyethylene or zeolites.

In another embodiment, the disclosed bottle closure device may include afilter and a removable cap or a removable stopper. The filter may bemade of any material, including the following: a mesh, a sieve, amembrane, a lattice, a basket, a cloth, or a sponge. Some or all of thefilter may comprise a scavenger material such as polyethylene orzeolites to remove TCA or other chemical contaminants from the contentsof the bottle. The filter may also include a spring, a ventilation tube,a ventilation mechanism, or a mechanism applying tension to the filter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures described below depict various aspects of the applications,methods, and systems disclosed herein. It should be understood that eachfigure depicts an embodiment of a particular aspect of the disclosedapplications, systems and methods, and that each of the figures isintended to accord with a possible embodiment thereof. Furthermore,wherever possible, the following description refers to the referencenumerals included in the following figures, in which features depictedin multiple figures are designated with consistent reference numerals.

FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional view of an exemplary bottle closuredevice in accordance with the described embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exaggerated sectional view of an exemplary bottleclosure device in accordance with the described embodiments;

FIGS. 3A-F illustrate sectional views of a sealed and unsealed exemplarybottle closure device incorporating a means of ventilation;

FIGS. 4A-H illustrate sectional views of several exemplary filters forbottle closure devices in accordance with the described embodiments;

FIGS. 5A-B illustrate sectional views of an exemplary bottle closuredevice incorporating a means of ventilation within a filter base;

FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional view of an exemplary bottle closuredevice incorporating a fixed filter;

FIGS. 7A-C illustrate sectional and perspective views of a sealed andunsealed exemplary bottle closure device incorporating a spring-assistedfilter;

FIGS. 8A-B illustrate sectional views of a sealed and unsealed exemplarybottle closure device incorporating a cork-assisted filter;

FIGS. 9A-C illustrate a sectional view of an exemplary bottle closuredevice incorporating a detachable filter;

FIGS. 10A-E illustrate sectional and perspective views of an exemplarybottle closure device with a breached sleeve and without an internalshoulder;

FIG. 11 illustrates a sectional view of an exemplary bottle closuredevice without a removable stopper or filter;

FIGS. 12A-F illustrate a sectional view of exemplary bottle closuredevices without removable stoppers;

FIGS. 13A-C illustrate sectional views of exemplary bottle closuredevices with filters that snap into place;

FIG. 14A-C illustrate a sectional view of an exemplary bottle closuredevice without a sleeve;

FIG. 15A-B illustrate a sectional view of an exemplary bottle closuredevice without a sleeve or a stopper cap;

FIGS. 16A-C illustrate a sectional view of an exemplary bottle closuredevice without a filter;

FIG. 17 illustrates a sectional view of an exemplary bottle closuredevice with a sleeve connected to a bottle by external threading on thebottle and internal threading on the sleeve;

FIG. 18 illustrates a sectional view of an exemplary bottle closuredevice with an externally threaded cap;

FIGS. 19A-B illustrate an exemplary bottle closure device with a flange;

FIG. 20 illustrates a sectional view of an exemplary bottle closuredevice with a pilfer band and a clad cap; and

FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary liquid container closure device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A number of exemplary embodiments of a bottle closure device thatcombines the advantages of screw caps and cork stoppers with contaminantprotection and filtration are described herein. Some embodiments aredirected toward particular aspects or configurations of the bottleclosure device, while others are intended to illustrate the interactionof the parts. Although a wine bottle is used for exemplary purposes inthe following description, it should be understood that the bottleclosure device may be used with any sort of bottle containing any typeof liquid. Beer, and particularly small-batch craft beer, presentssimilar challenges to those presented by wine, and it is often stored inbottles similar to wine bottles. Therefore, in addition to othercontents that may be stored in bottles closed by the invention discussedherein, it should be understood that the bottle closure device can beused with bottles designed to store at least wine and beer.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross sectional view of an exemplary bottle closuredevice 100, as used to seal a bottle 102. The exemplary bottle closuredevice 100 includes a sleeve 104 that fits within the neck of the bottle102 and into which a stopper 106 is inserted to form a barrier toprevent the flow of liquid into or out of the bottle 102. The stopper106 may include a stopper cap 108 to prevent TCA from tainting winestored within the bottle 102 and to provide a more secure seal. In someembodiments, the stopper cap 108 may be permeable to allow the transferof gases between the stopper 106 and the interior of the bottle. Theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 further includes a filter 110 to removeparticulates, such as sediment or impurities, from wine when poured fromthe bottle 102.

The sleeve 104 may be shaped to fit securely within the neck of thebottle 102 to reduce the amount of wine seeping between the bottle 102and the sleeve 104, or, in some embodiments, to prevent wine fromseeping between the bottle 102 and the sleeve 104 altogether. The sleeve104 may be constructed of any material appropriate to a particular use,including any known plastic, metal, glass, wood, or other organic orinorganic material. In some embodiments, the sleeve 104 may be removablyor irremovably attached to the bottle 102. The means of attaching thesleeve 104 to the bottle 102 may be located within or without the bottleneck and may apply pressure, adhesives, frangible or non-frangibleconnectors, clips, tabs, hooks, flanges, friction, tension, or othermechanical means to secure the components. In some embodiments, thebottle 102 and the sleeve 104 may be removably connected by an internalthreading 112 on the bottle 102 and an external threading 113 on thesleeve 104. The bottle 102 and the sleeve 104 may be connected thus byrotating either or both of the bottle 102 or the sleeve 104 whileinserting the sleeve 104 into the bottle 102, such that the internalthreading 112 of the bottle 102 receives the external threading 113 ofthe sleeve 104. In this manner, the sleeve 104 may be screwed into thebottle 102 such that it is held in place by friction between thethreadings 112 and 113 but may be removed by application of force in theopposite direction to unscrew the sleeve 104 from the bottle 102.

In some embodiments, the sleeve 104 may be made, in whole or part, of amaterial that is a contaminant scavenger, such as polyethylene orzeolites, which are scavengers of TCA. Other scavenger materials may beused for different purposes, such as an oxygen scavenger material forremoving oxygen from inside the bottle 102, such as a bottle 102containing wine or beer. In one embodiment, the sleeve 104 may be coatedwith a polyethylene or similar coating on the surfaces potentiallyexposed to the contents of the bottle 102 during storage (e.g., theinterior surface of the sleeve 104 facing the stopper 106 or theexterior surface of the sleeve 104 facing the neck of the bottle 102).Thus, the sleeve 104 may include an active packaging component forremoving or sequestering oxygen, TCA, or other harmful chemicals fromthe interior of the sealed bottle 102. Some embodiments may include onlyone type of scavenger material (e.g., oxygen scavengers or TCAscavengers). Other embodiments may include materials that are scavengersof different contaminants, which may be integrally incorporated withinor applied as coatings on the same or different parts of the surface ofthe sleeve 104. For example, a sleeve 104 may include oxygen scavengerson its interior surface adjacent to the stopper 106 and a TCA scavengeron its exterior surface adjacent or nearer to the neck of the bottle102. In this manner, the TCA scavenger may remove TCA from the contentsof the bottle 102 both while the bottle 102 is sealed and when thestopper 106 is removed. The oxygen scavenger on the interior surface ofthe sleeve 104, however, is only begins to remove oxygen from theinterior of the bottle 102 when the stopper 106 is removed. In furtherembodiments, an additional second sleeve (not shown) may be insertedinto the bottle neck between the bottle 102 and the sleeve 104, whichsecond sleeve (not shown) may be irremovably attached to the interior ofthe bottle neck with an adhesive or by any other known means. The secondsleeve (not shown) may include an interior threading to connect withexternal threading 113 on the sleeve 104 as described above with respectto the internal threading 112 of the bottle 102. The additional secondsleeve (not shown) may also be made of or coated with a contaminantscavenger material to eliminate or sequester contaminants within thebottle 102. In yet further embodiments, all or a portion of the interiorof the bottle 102 (e.g., the interior of the neck of the bottle 102) maybe coated with a contaminant scavenger material.

In embodiments including an active packaging component, the activepackaging component may be disposed to avoid exposure of the componentto the contents of the bottle 102 until the bottle 102 is opened byremoval of the sleeve 104 or the stopper 106. The active packagingcomponent may further be disposed to avoid exposure of the component tothe exterior of the bottle 102 or other potential influences that mayactivate the active packaging component. In some embodiments, the activepackaging component may include a film, coating, adhesive, or coveringapplied to the interior face of the sleeve 104 adjacent to the stopper106. Thus, the interface between the active packaging component and thestopper 106 may prevent the activation of the active packaging componentuntil the stopper 106 is wholly or partially removed. Upon removal, theactive packaging component may come into contact with the contents ofthe bottle 102 or the atmosphere around the bottle 102, at which pointthe active packaging component may remove or sequester contaminants.

For example, an oxygen-scavenging active packaging component may beapplied as a film on the interior surface of the sleeve 104 prior toinsertion of the stopper 106 when the bottle 102 is initially closed,such as when a wine is bottled. The stopper 106 may prevent the activepackaging component from interacting with any incident oxygen within theclosed bottle 102 or the wine. When the bottle 102 is opened by removingthe stopper 106, the active packaging component may come into contactwith oxygen in the atmosphere, which the active packaging component maysequester or convert to other chemical compounds. If the bottle 102 isthen resealed (such as by the partial reinsertion of the stopper 106),the active packaging component may continue to remove oxygen from thegas trapped within the bottle 102. In so doing, the active packagingmaterial may reduce the pace of degradation of the remaining contents ofthe bottle 102.

In further embodiments, the active packaging component may be otherwisedisposed within bottle 102, the sleeve 104, or the stopper 106 in suchmanner as to prevent activation until the bottle is opened. For example,the active packaging component may be sealed by an additional inertmaterials onto a portion of the sleeve 104 of the neck of the bottle 102adjacent to the sleeve 104, in such manner that the inert materialprevents the activation of the active packaging component until thebottle 102 is opened. Upon opening, however, the inert material may becracked, broken, or removed to expose the active packaging material tothe interior of the bottle 102. Although the active packaging materialmay be included as a coating, film, adhesive, or other covering, theactive packaging component may be included in some embodiments as asachet, powder, or other feature within the bottle 102. In someembodiments, the sleeve 104 may be made in whole or part of an activepackaging component material, or an active packaging component materialmay be integrally incorporated into the sleeve 104. The active packagingcomponent may include any TCA or oxygen-scavenging material, such aspolyethylene, zeolites, ferrous materials, activated carbon, sodiumsulfite, sodium chloride, glucose oxidase, or other enzymes or polymers.

In the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 1, the sleeve 104 may be screwedinto place to seal the bottle 102. The sleeve 104 may likewise beunscrewed to open the bottle 102, as an alternative to opening thebottle 102 by removing the stopper 106. When the bottle 102 is unsealedby removing the sleeve 104, the sleeve 104 may later be reinserted toreseal the bottle 102. By screwing the sleeve 104 back into positionusing the internal threading 112 and the external threading 113, thebottle 102 may be securely resealed after opening. To prevent impropertampering with the contents of the bottle 102, a pilfer ring (not shown)may be added to the bottle closure device 100, such that a frangibleportion of the pilfer ring (not shown) may be broken by removal of thesleeve 104 from the bottle 102.

In some embodiments, the interior of the sleeve 104 may be tapered toprovide a more secure seal with the stopper 106. FIG. 2 illustrates anexaggerated cross section of an exemplary embodiment of a bottle closuredevice 200 in which the interior side of a sleeve 204 is tapered. Asabove, the sleeve 204 is disposed within a bottle 202 and connected bythreadings 212 and 213 of the bottle 202 and the sleeve 204,respectively. A stopper 206 is illustrated without a stopper cap forclarity, and other components shown in FIG. 1 are likewise omitted forclarity. The tapering of the sleeve 204 is exaggerated to illustrate theconcept, as the actual tapering may involve only a few degreesdifference between the angles of the interior and exterior sides of thesleeve 204. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the interior surface of the sleeve204 is tapered such that the opening in the sleeve 204 reaches itsnarrowest point at a pressure point 205. The pressure point ispositioned between the bottom end of the sleeve 204 located within thebottle 202 and the top end of the sleeve 204 located outside the bottle202. The pressure point 205 creates a ridge around the interior of thesleeve 204 at which the greatest pressure is applied to the stopper 206.By so doing, the pressure point 205 holds the stopper 206 in place evenwhere pressure from the interior of the bottle 202 or other forces causethe stopper 206 to become partially withdrawn from the sleeve 204. Inone embodiment, the pressure point 205 may be positioned on the interiorof the sleeve 204 at a location opposite the external threading 213 onthe exterior of the sleeve 204 for added structural support, asillustrated in FIG. 2. While the pressure point 205 is thus illustratedat a particular location opposite the external threading 213, it shouldbe understood that the pressure point 205 could be located at anylocation along the interior of the sleeve 204 (e.g., at the top orbottom of the sleeve 204). Additionally, or alternatively, a pluralityof pressure points 205 may be included to hold the stopper 206 moresecurely.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the connection betweenthe bottle 102 and the sleeve 104 may be made more secure by theinclusion of one or more seal rings 114. The seal rings 114 may be agasket, adhesive layer, deformable ring, or other sealing mechanismplaced within the bottle neck or at the lip of the bottle neck and maybe attached to either or neither of the bottle 102 or the sleeve 104.When located within the bottle 102, the seal ring 114 may rest on aninternal shoulder 116 within the bottle neck. It is advantageous, butnot necessary, to construct the one or more seal rings 114 from a highlycompressible material, such as rubber, plastic, foam, wax, cork, orsimilarly deformable materials. In one embodiment, the seal rings 114may be made from foamed polyethylene, having a soft foam core finishedwith a solid polyethylene exterior. Polyethylene liners have excellentchemical resistance and a low moisture transmission rate. Polyethyleneis also a scavenger of TCA, so its use in the seal rings 114 providesadditional protection against TCA taint. Alternatively, the seal rings114 may be constructed of other materials including but not limited to:polymers, elastomers, plastisol, cork, or multilayered liners. In someembodiments, one or more of the seal rings 114 may be replaced by alinerless flange, which compresses to provide a secure seal when thesleeve 104 is inserted within the neck of the bottle 102.

The stopper 106 may be inserted into the sleeve 104 to securely closethe bottle 102 and create a removable seal in the same manner as a winecork in a traditionally closed bottle of wine. The stopper 106 may becylindrical, with two circular ends at its top and bottom that arejoined along their circumferences by a continuous side, and may beconstructed of any pliable material, including cork, plastic, rubber,foam, wax, or another organic or inorganic material that may be fittedto securely seal the interior of the sleeve 104. A pliable material isused to allow the stopper 106 to be held in place by and form a barrierwith the sleeve 104 by compression and also to allow removal of thestopper 106 from the sleeve 104, such as with a corkscrew. In someembodiments, one end of the stopper 106 may include, be coated with, orbe connected to the stopper cap 108. In another embodiment, the entirestopper 106 may be covered with the stopper cap 108, which may include athicker section of the stopper cap 108 at one or both ends. The stopper106 and the stopper cap 108 are integrated or connected in such a mannerthat the removal of the stopper 106 from the sleeve 104 causes theremoval of the stopper cap 108 under normal operation.

The stopper cap 108 may serve as the interior face of the stopper 106 tocreate a barrier between the stopper material and the contents of thebottle 102. This feature may be of particular advantage in preventingTCA taint from a cork stopper 106 where the bottle 102 contains wine. Inone embodiment, the stopper cap 108 may be made, partially orcompletely, of a material that is a contaminant scavenger, such aspolyethylene or zeolites, which are scavengers of TCA. Other scavengermaterials may be used for different purposes, such as an oxygenscavenger material for removing oxygen from the bottle 102. As discussedabove, using a contaminant scavenger material for the stopper cap 108increases the effectiveness of the barrier between the cork and thewine, and the stopper cap 108 may additionally remove contaminants fromthe stopper 106 or from tainted wine stored within the bottle 102.Additionally, or alternatively, the stopper 106 and the stopper cap 108may be made of materials selected in whole or part to be gas permeableto allow the transfer of gases through the stopper 106 and the stoppercap 108. Such gas transfer may include vapors entering the stopper 106from the interior of the bottle 102 or atmospheric gases such as oxygenentering the interior of the bottle 102 through the stopper 106 and thestopper cap 108. In some embodiments, the stopper 106 or the stopper cap108 may be made of a porous or gas-permeable material or membraneallowing the controlled exchange of various gases at controlled rates,to permit a desirable level of gas exchange. A gas permeable stopper 106may be used in situations where it is desirable to allow a controlledexchange of gas through the closure of the bottle 102. For example, agas permeable stopper 106 may be used to mimic the permeability of anunenhanced cork stopper in a traditional wine bottle in order to allowwine within the bottle 102 to age at the same rate as wine in atraditionally closed wine bottle.

The filter 110 may be disposed within the neck of the bottle 102 tofilter particulates and impurities as the contents are poured. Invarious embodiments, the filter 110 may be planar, curved, compressible,rigid, flexible, fixed, or movable. The filter 110 may include aperforated sieve, a membrane, a multilayer lattice, a mesh, a foam orsponge, or any other known means of removing particulates or chemicalimpurities from a liquid. The filter 110 may likewise take a variety ofshapes and be variously positioned within the bottle 102 or within thesleeve 104. In some embodiments, the filter 110 may be removably orirremovably connected to the sleeve 104 by an known means, includingadhesives, injection molding, monolithic pouring, welding, soldering, orsonic welding. The filter 110 may further be integrally incorporatedwithin the sleeve 104. For example, the sleeve 104 may be constructedsuch that a portion thereof forms a basket having perforationsthroughout the basket portion, though which the contents of the bottle102 may pass. Additionally, the filter 110 may be constructed of avariety of materials, including stainless steel, polymers, elastomers,cloth, sponge, foam, or other organic or inorganic material, including abiodegradable organic material. In some embodiments, the filter 110 mayfurther serve to aerate the contents of the bottle 102 when the contentsare poured through the filter 110. For example, the filter 110 may causethe contents of the bottle 102 to combine with atmospheric gassespresent within or around the bottle 102 when the contents are pouredthrough the filter 110.

In some embodiments, the filter 110 may be made in whole or part of amaterial that removes, blocks, or sequesters one or more contaminantsfrom the contents of the bottle 102. For example, the filter materialmay be charged in a manner that attracts and sequesters a contaminant,such as is polyethylene, which scavenges TCA contaminating wine andother liquids by the molecular charges of the material and thecontaminant. As another example, the filter material may be an oxygenscavenger for some uses. As another example, the filter 110 may have apore size designed to block the passage of particulate or chemicalimpurities (e.g., to block TCA). Additionally, or alternatively, thefilter 104 may be made or coated in a material that scavenges otherimpurities, such as oxygen scavengers, including ferrous materials,activated carbon, sodium sulfite, sodium chloride, glucose oxidase, orother enzymes or polymers. In some embodiments, the filter 104 may befurther configured to remove or restrain specific additives from beingpoured out of the bottle 102. For example, spices or flavoring additives(e.g., herbs, cloves, etc.) may be added to a liquid such as wine or oilstored in the bottle 102, and the filter 104 may be configured with apore size or other features that permit the wine or oil to pass butprevent the passage of the spices or additives. A number of exemplaryembodiments are presented below. In some embodiments, the filter 110 maybe reinforced or fixed in place by a filter ring 118, which may rest onthe internal shoulder 116 or be connected to the sleeve 104. The filterring 118 may also be held in place between the sleeve 104 and theinternal shoulder 116, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In some embodiments,the filter ring 118 may be constructed in a shape or of a compressiblematerial (e.g., rubber, foam, cork, plastic, etc.) to form a more secureseal with the stopper cap 108 or the filter 110, as discussed above withrespect to the seal ring 114. This may be particularly valuable inembodiments without the filter cap 108 or equivalent barriers betweenstoppers and filters.

In some embodiments, the bottle closure device 100 may allow the bottle102 to be opened either by removing the stopper 106 or by removing thesleeve 104 together with the stopper 106. Where the stopper 106 alone isremoved, removal may require the use of a removal device (not shown),such as a corkscrew. Where the sleeve 104 is removed concurrently withthe stopper 106, removal may be accomplished by unscrewing the sleeve104 from the bottle 102, such as where internal threading 112 on thebottle 102 connects the bottle 102 to the external threading 113 on thesleeve 104. When both the sleeve 104 and the stopper 106 are removedtogether, the filter 110 and the filter ring 118 may be removed with thesleeve 104 or may remain within the bottle 102.

The exemplary embodiments discussed above may be improved by theaddition of a means of ventilation, such as a tube, hole, or othermechanism for causing a pressure differential across a filter to allowthe inflow of air. FIG. 3A illustrates a cross section of an exemplaryembodiment of a bottle closure device 300 with a planar mesh filter 310and a ventilation tube 320, and FIG. 3B illustrates a top view of thefilter 310 and the ventilation tube 320 of the same exemplaryembodiment. As in the exemplary embodiment above, the bottle closuredevice 300 includes a stopper 306 disposed within a sleeve 304, which isinserted within a bottle 302 and connected thereto by connecting aninternal threading 312 on the bottle 302 with an external threading 313on the sleeve 304. The stopper 306 connects to a stopper cap 308, whichforms a seal and may abut a filter ring 318 and the filter 310, whichrests upon an internal shoulder 316 of the bottle 302. The ventilationtube 320 is added to the filter 310 to facilitate the flow of liquid outof the bottle 302 by introducing a lower-pressure point for air to enterthe bottle 302. Without ventilation, the pressure on both sides of thefilter 310 is approximately equivalent, inhibiting air from enteringthrough the filter 310 or the contents from pouring out through thefilter 310. Particularly when a planar filter such as the filer 310 isused in the bottle closure device 300, therefore, it is desirable toinclude a means of introducing a pressure differential because a failureto do so hinders the flow of liquid from the bottle 302. Even when othertypes of filters are used, the introduction of a hole, tube, or otherventilation mechanism creates an area of lower pressure through whichair may enter the bottle 302 to replace the liquid poured out of thebottle 302. The introduction of the ventilation tube 320 into the bottleclosure device 300 provides a sufficient pressure differential to allowair to enter and the contents of the bottle 302 to pour out through thefilter 310.

Although the filter 310 illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B is a planar mesh,other types of filters may be used, as generally discussed above. Theventilation tube 320 may be cylindrical, conical, or fashioned inanother shape. Similarly, the ventilation tube 320 may be placed at anypoint along the filter 310, and it may be attached to the filter 310 atany angle sufficient to allow ventilation. FIG. 3C illustrates anexample of one such alternative placement, in which the ventilation tube320 is located in the center of the filter 310. The ventilation tube 320also may be of any size smaller than the filter and of any lengthshorter than the bottle 302, however, certain sizes are particularlyadvantageous. Specifically, an internal diameter of approximatelyone-eighth inch and a length between one and a half and two inchesproduces a desirable level of ventilation and liquid flow. Additionally,the ventilation tube 320 operates more effectively when located awayfrom the center of the filter 310 and on the top side of the filter 310relative to the direction of gravity when the bottle 302 is beingpoured. To ensure proper positioning of the ventilation tube 320 whenpouring the contents of the bottle 302, a plurality of ventilation tubes320 may be used in some embodiments, which may be attached symmetricallyor asymmetrically to the filter 310. FIG. 3D illustrates a top view of asymmetric placement of a plurality of the ventilation tubes 320, andFIG. 3E illustrates a top view of an asymmetric placement of a pluralityof the ventilation tubes 320. Ventilation may also be improved by addingone or more outlets on either end or along the length of the ventilationtube 320. FIG. 3F illustrates a perspective view of the filter 310 andthe ventilation tube 320 in which the ventilation tube 320 hasadditional outlets along its length. In some embodiments, theventilation tube 320 may have additional outlets on either end or alongits length. In other embodiments, breaches or perforations in the sleeve304 may obviate the need for a separate ventilation tube 320 byproviding for ventilation, as illustrated in FIGS. 10D and 10E below.

As discussed above, various embodiments of the bottle closure device mayinclude filters of varying types and shapes to facilitate liquid flow byintroducing pressure differentials. FIGS. 4A-H illustrate cross sectionsof several exemplary filters 410 within a bottle 402. Some embodimentsfurther depict ventilation tubes, but any filter 410 may be combinedwith one or more ventilation tubes 420. Alternatively, any of thefilters 410 may be implemented without ventilation tubes 420. Althoughthe illustrations do not depict other features (e.g., sleeves, stoppers,stopper caps, internal shoulders, threadings, ventilation holes, filterbases, etc.) for the sake of clarity, it should be understood that eachfilter 410 may be combined with the other features discussed throughoutthis specification. FIG. 4A illustrates the filter 410 wherein thefilter 410 is a conical mesh with a ventilation tube 420 within the coneand extending down into the bottle 402 and away from the opening of thebottle 402 to introduce a pressure differential. FIG. 4B illustrates thefilter 410 wherein the filter 410 is a conical mesh with its apexextending up into the neck of the bottle 402 and away from the interiorof the bottle 402 to introduce a pressure differential. FIG. 4Cillustrates the filter 410 wherein the filter 410 is conical mesh withits apex extending up into the neck of the bottle 402 as in FIG. 4B, butin which the ventilation tube 420 extends down into the bottle 402, toillustrate that any of the illustrated embodiments may includeventilation tubes 420 disposed in any direction relative to the filter410. FIG. 4D illustrates the filter 410 wherein the filter 410 is alayer of porous or otherwise permeable material, such as a sponge, witha ventilation tube 420 extending down into the bottle 402. FIG. 4Eillustrates the filter 410 wherein the filter 410 is curved with acup-shape and its center extending up into the neck of the bottle 402.FIG. 4F illustrates the filter 410 wherein the filter 410 is curved witha cup-shape and its center extending down into the bottle 402. FIGS. 4Eand 4F further illustrates that the filter 410 may be disposed atvarying distances from the opening of the bottle 402. FIG. 4Gillustrates the filter 410 wherein the filter 410 is a cylindrical meshextending up into the neck of the bottle 402 to introduce a pressuredifferential. The top of the cylinder of the filter 410 may likewise bemesh or a solid surface, and the bottom of the cylinder of the filter410 is open to permit the flow of liquid out of the bottle 402. FIG. 4Hillustrates the filter 410 wherein the filter 410 is a cylindrical meshas in FIG. 4G but wherein the cylinder extends down into the bottle 402to introduce a pressure differential. Although these exemplaryembodiments of the filter 410 are depicted to illustrate the variety offilter types that may be used, other types of filters not depicted (suchas the filter depicted in FIGS. 10A-D) may also be used.

Ventilation may be provided by a separate tube, as in FIG. 3, or byother means integrated into the design of a bottle closure device. FIG.5A illustrates a cross section of an exemplary embodiment of a bottleclosure device 500 with a filter 510 and a ventilation tube 520 disposedwithin a filter base 524. FIG. 5B illustrates a perspective view of thebottle closure device 500, depicting the parabolic wedge shape of thefilter base 524. As in the exemplary embodiments discussed above, thebottle closure device 500 includes a stopper 506 within a sleeve 504,which is inserted within a bottle 502 and connected thereto by aninternal threading 512 on the bottle 502 and an external threading 513on the sleeve 504. The stopper 506 connects to a stopper cap 508, whichforms a seal with a filter ring 518. As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B,the ventilation tube 520 has an opening near the narrow bottom end ofthe filter base 524, which is located away from the filter 510 andfurthest within the bottle 502. The filter 510 is disposed within thetop end of the filter base 524, adjacent to the stopper cap 508. Betweenthe ends of the filter base 524, the ventilation tube 520 is disposedwithin the wedge portion of the filter base 524 as illustrated in FIG.5A. Although only one ventilation tube 520 is illustrated in the bottleclosure device 500, a plurality could be used, as discussed above.

The filter base 524 also contains a filter 510, illustrated as a planardisk filter, which functions as described above to remove particles andimpurities from the contents of a bottle 502, including TCA. Asdiscussed above, however, the filter 510 may be another type of filterdisposed within or connected to the filter base 524. In someembodiments, the filter base 524 may be removably connected to thesleeve 504 by any known means, including tabs, hooks, clips, adhesives,rings, threading, pins, flanges, friction, or tension. In otherembodiments, the filter base 524 may be irremovably connected to thesleeve 504 by any known means, including adhesives, monolithic pouring,welding, soldering, sonic welding, or other means. By separating thesleeve 504 and the filter base 524, various combinations of shapes andsizes of sleeves 504 and filters 510 may be more efficiently produced tofit the sizes and shapes of a range of bottles 502 and stoppers 506. Inthe exemplary embodiment, the filter base 524 connects to the sleeve 504by the interlocking of a base tab 526 on the filter base 524 and asleeve tab 527 on the sleeve 504, but other means of connection may beused in other embodiments. In some embodiments, the filter base 524 maybe an integrated portion of the sleeve 504, such that no connectivemeans are necessary. In other embodiments, the filter base 524 may beunconnected to the sleeve 504, such that the sleeve 504 may be removedwithout removing the filter base 524. Whether connected or unconnected,the filter base 524 may be made of any one or more materials from whichthe sleeve 504 or the filer 510 may be made, including biodegradablematerials. The filter base 524 may rest upon an internal shoulder 516 ofthe bottle 502, and the seal between the internal shoulder 516 and thefilter base 524 may be made more secure by the addition of a shoulderring 522 made of a pliable or compressible material. In someembodiments, the filter base 524 may form a seal with the interior sidesof the bottle 502 by friction or tension, and the internal shoulder 516may be absent.

In addition to ventilation tubes, a pressure differential may beintroduced by the shape of the filter. FIG. 6 illustrates a crosssection of an exemplary embodiment of a bottle closure device 600 with afixed curved filter 610. The filter 610 functions as described above toremove particles and impurities from the contents of a bottle 602,including TCA. The filter 610 introduces a pressure differential asdiscussed above by its curved shape, such that the internal pressure ishigher in the center than at the edges of the filter 610. To furtherimprove the flow of contents from the bottle 602, one or moreventilation holes 620 may be added to the filter 610. Thus, a pressuredifferential and a means for air to enter the bottle 602 areincorporated within the filter 610. Although the exemplary filter 610 isillustrated as having a bell shape, a conical, hemispherical, cubic,pyramidal, or any other convenient shape may be used to create apressure differential by extending a part of the filter 610 further intothe neck of the bottle 602.

As in the exemplary embodiments discussed above, the bottle closuredevice 600 includes a stopper 606 within a sleeve 604, which is insertedwithin a bottle 602 and connected thereto by an internal threading 612on the bottle 602 and an external threading 613 on the sleeve 604. Thestopper 606 connects to a stopper cap 608, which forms a seal with afilter ring 618. The stopper cap 608 contains a cavity at least ofsufficient dimensions for the insertion of the filter 610 withoutdeformation of either the stopper cap 608 or the filter 610. In someembodiments, the stopper cap 608 may be fitted to the dimensions of thefilter 610 such that the stopper cap 608 forms to the filter 610, whichmay provide support from damage to the filter 610 during storage.Additionally, fitting the stopper cap 608 to the dimensions of thefilter 610 prevents the accumulation of sediment or other particulatesbetween the stopper cap 608 and the filter 610. Alternatively, thestopper cap 608 may include a cavity more than sufficient for the filter610, such that a gap exists between the stopper cap 608 and the filter610. As in the embodiments discussed above, the stopper cap 608 may bemade in whole or part of a scavenger material, such as polyethylene orzeolites, which are scavengers of TCA, to protect the contents of thebottle 602 from contamination from the stopper 606 or other sourcesoutside the bottle and to remove contaminants from the stopper 606 orfrom tainted wine or other contents stored within the bottle 602.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the filter 610 isheld in place by a filter base 624 connected to the sleeve 604 by tab626 on the filter base 624 and tab 627 on the sleeve 604, as discussedabove with respect to FIG. 5A. As above, the filter base 624 may beconnected to the sleeve 604 in ways other than those shown, or thefilter base 624 may be formed as an integrated part of the sleeve 604.In other embodiments, the filter base 624 may not be connected to thesleeve 604. The filter base 624 may rest upon an internal shoulder 616of the bottle 602, and may be sealed by a shoulder ring 622 made of apliable or compressible material to form a more secure seal between theinternal shoulder 616 and the filter base 624.

Unlike the fixed filter 610 in FIG. 6, other embodiments may utilizevarious means of moving filters into place to introduce pressuredifferentials. FIGS. 7A-B illustrate a cross section of an exemplaryembodiment of a bottle closure device 700 with a flexible filter 710assisted in expanding into place by a spring 728. As in the exemplaryembodiments discussed above, the bottle closure device 700 includes astopper 706 connected to a stopper cap 708 within a sleeve 704, which isinserted within a bottle 702 and connected thereto by an internalthreading 712 on the bottle 702 and an external threading 713 on thesleeve 704. FIG. 7A illustrates the exemplary bottle closure device 700when opened by removing the stopper 706, with the spring 728uncompressed and the filter 710 expanded. FIG. 7B illustrates theexemplary bottle closure device 700 when closed with a stopper 706 and astopper cap 708, in which position the filter 710 and spring 728 arecompressed within a filter base 724 that connects to the sleeve 704.When closed, the filter 710 and spring 728 may be compressed within thefilter base 724 by the stopper 706 and the stopper cap 708. Although acoil spring is illustrated, the spring 728 may alternately be anothertype of spring and may be connected directly to the filter base 724 orto a filter ring 718. The spring 728 may also be integrated with thefilter 710 or may be a separate component causing the filter 710 toexpand into the sleeve 704 when the stopper 706 is removed. FIG. 7Cillustrates a perspective view of the bottle closure device 700illustrating the spring 728 as a compressed spiral when closed. In otherembodiments, the filter 710 may be made of a compressible material, suchas a sponge, that may expand without the assistance of the spring 728.

When the bottle closure device 700 is opened, the filter 710 functionsas described above to remove particles and impurities from the contentsof a bottle 702. In some embodiments, the filter 710 may be disposedwithin the filter base 724 such that the contents of the bottle 702 mayalso come into contact with the filter 710 when the bottle closuredevice 700 is closed. In such embodiments, the filter 710 may alsoremove TCA from the stopper 706 or from tainted wine or other contentsstored within the bottle 702. The filter 710 may be made of any flexiblematerial, such as a polymer mesh. In some embodiments, the filter 710may be made of an elastic material that stretches while expanding intothe sleeve 704. In other embodiments, the filter 710 may besubstantially inelastic under the pressure of the spring 728, in whichcase the filter 710 may expand into the sleeve 704 by unfolding. Thefilter 710 or filter base 724 may include one or more ventilation holes720 to introduce a pressure differential as discussed in the aboveembodiments when the filter 710 expands upon the bottle closure device700 being opened.

The stopper cap 708 forms a seal with a cap ring 726 and the filter base724. As in the embodiments discussed above, the stopper cap 708 may bemade in whole or part of a scavenger material, such as polyethylene orzeolites, which are scavengers of TCA, to protect the contents of thebottle 702 from contamination from the stopper 706 or other sourcesoutside the bottle and to remove contaminants from the stopper 706 orfrom tainted wine or other contents stored within the bottle 702. Thecap ring 726 may be made of a pliable or compressible material to form amore secure seal between the stopper cap 708 and the filter base 724. Asdescribed in the embodiments discussed above, the filter base 724 may beconnected to the sleeve 704 in ways other than those shown, or thefilter base 724 may be formed as an integrated part of the sleeve 704.In other embodiments, the filter base 724 may not be connected to thesleeve 704. The filter base 724 may rest upon an internal shoulder 716of the bottle 702, and may be sealed by a shoulder ring 722 made of apliable or compressible material to form a more secure seal between theinternal shoulder 716 and the filter base 724.

FIGS. 8A-B illustrate a cross section of an exemplary embodiment of abottle closure device 800 with a filter 810 assisted in rising intoplace by a connection to a stopper cap 808. As in the exemplaryembodiments discussed above, the bottle closure device 800 includes astopper 806 connected to a stopper cap 808 within a sleeve 804, which isinserted within a bottle 802 and connected thereto by an internalthreading 812 on the bottle 802 and an external threading 813 on thesleeve 804. The sleeve 804 may be connected to a filter base 824, inwhich the filter 810 is contained until the stopper 806 is removed. Asin the embodiments illustrated above, the filter 810 may introduce apressure differential by its shape and may extend from the filter base824 up into the sleeve 804 when the bottle closure device 800 is openedby removing the stopper 806. To further aid the flow through the filter810, the filter 810 may include one or more ventilation holes 820. Insome embodiments, the ventilation holes may be augmented or replaced byventilation tubes (not shown). FIG. 8A illustrates the exemplary bottleclosure device 800 when closed with the stopper 806, in which positionthe filter 810 is contained within the filter base 824. FIG. 8Billustrates the exemplary bottle closure device 800 when opened, withthe filter 810 raised into position by the removal of the stopper 806.

When closed as shown in FIG. 8A, the filter 810 may be housed within thefilter base 824, which may in turn be partially or wholly submerged inthe contents of the bottle 802, regardless of whether the bottle 802 isstanding upright, on its side, or inverted. In this manner, the filter810 may come into contact with the contents of the bottle 802 while thebottle 802 is sealed. In some embodiments, the filter 810 may be made ofpolyethylene, zeolites, or another contaminant scavenger materialallowing the filter 810 to remove contaminants such as TCA from thestopper 806 or from the contents of the bottle 802 prior to opening. Inorder to lift the filter out of the contents of the bottle 802 tointroducing a pressure differential for better pouring as discussedabove, the filter 810 may be connected to the stopper cap 808 by a capconnector 830, which is attached to the filter 810 or the stopper cap808. In the illustrated embodiment, the cap connector 830 is a globularprotuberance from the stopper cap 808, which fits within a socket 828connected to the filter 810. The socket 828 includes a cavity connectedto a portion of the filter 810, where the cap connector 830 residesuntil the stopper 806 is removed. During removal of the stopper 806, thecap connector 830 withdraws from the socket 828, as illustrated in FIG.8B. In other embodiments, the cap connector 830 may instead detach fromthe stopper cap 808. In some embodiments, the cap connector 830 mayinclude a frangible portion that breaks to decouple the stopper cap 808and the filter 810 when the stopper 806 is removed. In such embodiments,the socket 828 may not be present. Although the exemplary embodimentillustrates the cap connector 830 disposed within the socket 828, thestopper cap 808 may be connected by other means to assist the filter 810into place, including tabs, hooks, adhesives, frangible connectors,compressible rings, flanges, friction, tensions, or other mechanisms. Insome embodiments, the filter 810 may not be connected to the stopper 806or the stopper cap 808 by any means, instead being moved into place bythe force of the contents being poured through the filter 810 after thebottle is opened by removing the stopper 806.

When the stopper 806 is removed from the sleeve 804, the filter 810 isextracted from the filter base 824 into the sleeve 804 by the connectionbetween the stopper cap 808 and the filter 810. As illustrated in FIG.8B, the cap connector 830 pulls the filter 810 partially out of thefilter base 824 by its connection with the socket 828. When sufficientforce is applied to the stopper 806, the cap connector 830 escapes thesocket 828. In some embodiments utilizing other connectors between thestopper cap 808 and the filter 810, the connection between the stoppercap 808 and the filter 810 may be disengaged or broken in anothermanner. When the filter 810 has been lifted into the sleeve 804, afilter ring 818 may form a seal between the filter 810 and the filterbase 824. In some embodiments, the filter 810 may be held in place by aplurality of notches 832 within the filter base 824. The notches 832 mayhold the filter 810 in place directly or by fixing the position of thefilter ring 818. In one embodiment, the notches 832 may be replaced by alip or ring.

The stopper cap 808 may form a seal with a cap ring 826 and the filterbase 824 when the bottle closure device 800 is closed. As discussed inthe embodiments discussed above, the stopper cap 808 may be made inwhole or part of a contaminant scavenger material, such as polyethyleneor zeolites, which are scavengers of TCA, to protect the contents of thebottle 802 from contamination from the stopper 806 or other sourcesoutside the bottle and to remove contaminants from the stopper 806 orfrom tainted wine or other contents stored within the bottle 802. Thecap ring 826 may be made of a pliable or compressible material to form amore secure seal between the stopper cap 808 and the filter base 824. Asdescribed in the embodiments discussed above, the filter base 824 may beconnected to the sleeve 804 in ways other than those shown, or thefilter base 824 may be formed as an integrated part of the sleeve 804.In other embodiments, the filter base 824 may not be connected to thesleeve 804. The filter base 824 may rest upon an internal shoulder 816of the bottle 802, and may be sealed by a shoulder ring 822 made of apliable or compressible material to form a more secure seal between theinternal shoulder 816 and the filter base 824.

As discussed above, filters included in various embodiments of bottleclosure devices may rest upon or be connected to internal shoulders.FIG. 9A illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a bottle closure device900 with a filter 910 held in place by a plurality of tabs 920 connectedto an internal shoulder 916 of a bottle 902. As in the exemplaryembodiments discussed above, the bottle closure device 900 includes astopper 906 within a sleeve 904, which is inserted within the bottle 902and connected thereto by an internal threading 912 on the bottle 902 andan external threading 913 on the sleeve 904. The stopper 906 may connectto a stopper cap 908, which forms a seal with a filter ring 918 to sealthe bottle 902. The filter ring 918 may be attached or connected to thesleeve 904 or to the filter 910 by various means, including adhesives,friction, pressure, interlocking tabs or grooves, flanges, or any othermeans. As discussed in the embodiments discussed above, the stopper cap908 or the filter 910 may be made in whole or part of a contaminantscavenger material, such as polyethylene or zeolites, which arescavengers of TCA, to protect the contents of the bottle 902 fromcontamination from the stopper 906 or other sources outside the bottleand to remove contaminants from the stopper 906 or from tainted wine orother contents stored within the bottle 902. In some embodiments, a sealring 914 may be included to form a more secure seal between the bottle902 and the sleeve 904, as discussed with respect to the embodimentsdescribed above.

The filter 910 may be connected to one or more tabs 920 that secure thefilter to the internal shoulder 916. The filter 910 rests upon the upperledge of the internal shoulder 916, and the tabs 920 hook to the lowerledge of the internal shoulder 916 to hold the filter 910 in place. Insome embodiments, the tabs 920 may connect to the internal shoulder 916by one or more hooks, rings, pliable sleeves, threadings, or othermeans. The tabs 920 may connect either to the filter 910 or to thefilter ring 918. In some embodiments, the sleeve 904 may be connected tothe filter 910, the filter ring 918, or the tabs 920. The connectionwith the sleeve may include a frangible portion that breaks when thesleeve 904 is removed from the bottle 902. This may provide a moresecure seal and provide additional protection against accidental orintentional removal of the sleeve 904 while the bottle 902 is beingtransported or stored. The frangible portion may include a continuousinterface between the sleeve 904 and the connected component, aplurality of connectors along the interface, or a frangible protuberancealong the interface. In such embodiments, the filter 910 may remainconnected to the internal shoulder 916 by the tabs 920 to allow thecontents to pass through the filter when poured from the bottle 902.Additionally, or alternatively, the bottle 902 may be unsealed byremoving only the stopper 906 and the stopper cap 908, in which case thecontents would likewise pass through the filter 910 when poured.

FIGS. 9B and 9C illustrate cross sectional views of a portion of thebottle closure device 900 in alternative embodiments to emphasizealternative means of removably connecting the sleeve 904 to the filter910. FIG. 9B illustrates an embodiment of the bottle closure device 900in which the sleeve 904 contains flanges 924 and 926 for form a sealwith a portion of the tabs 920. When the sleeve 904 is securely insertedwithin the bottle 902, the flanges 924 and 926 deform plastically aroundthe portion of the tabs 920 with which they come into contact. Thetension created by this deformation provides a secure seal. In addition,the deformation increases the force required to remove the sleeve 904from the bottle 902, providing additional protection against the sleeve904 being partially or wholly removed from the neck of the bottle 902while the bottle 902 is in storage or transit. FIG. 9C illustratesanother embodiment of the bottle closure device 900 in which the sleeve904 is securely connected to the tabs 920 by two ridges 928 and 930. Theridge 928 on the sleeve 904 may be connected to the ridge 930 on thetabs 920 by any known means, including the use of adhesives, single pourmolding, heating, or sonic welding. When the sleeve 904 is removed fromthe neck of the bottle 902, the narrow cross sectional area at which theridges 928 and 930 are connected provides initial resistance prior todeforming or breaking. This likewise provides additional protectionagainst inadvertent or intentional removal of the sleeve 904 duringstorage or transportation.

Other embodiments may lack an internal shoulder, such as the embodimentin FIGS. 10A-E. FIG. 10A illustrates a sectional view of an exemplaryembodiment of a bottle closure device 1000 with a sleeve 1004 having oneor more breaches 1020 and without an internal shoulder. As in theembodiments discussed above, the bottle closure device 1000 furtherincludes a stopper 1006 and stopper cap 1008 disposed within the sleeve1004, which is inserted within a bottle 1002 and connected thereto by aninternal threading 1012 on the bottle 1002 and an external threading1013 on the sleeve 1004 and sealed by a seal ring 1014. Without aninternal shoulder, wine or other contents stored within the bottle 1002may flow or seep between the outer surface of the sleeve 1004 and theinner surface of the neck of the bottle 1002. To allow the contents toflow out of the bottle 1002 when opened by the removal of the stopper1006, the breaches 1020 may be added to the sleeve 1004. The breaches1020 may be holes, slits, perforations, or other breaks in the surfaceof a portion of the sleeve 1004 adapted to allow liquid to flow throughthem, creating a pressure differential across the sleeve 1004 andfacilitating the inflow of atmospheric gasses into the bottle 1002 whenthe contents are poured. FIG. 10B illustrates a perspective view of thesleeve 1004 to provide a better depiction of one embodiments of thebreaches 1020.

In some embodiments, the breaches 1020 and the interior opening 1022 ofthe sleeve 1004 near the stopper cap 1008 may be covered with a filtermaterial, as illustrated in FIG. 10C. The filter material may be any ofthe types of material discussed above with reference to filters,including stainless steel, polymers, elastomers, cloth, sponge, foam, orother organic or inorganic material, including a biodegradable organicmaterial. Moreover, the filter material may be connected to the sleeve1004 by adhesives, monolithic pouring, injection molding, welding,soldering, sonic welding, or other know means. By covering the breaches1020 and the interior opening 1022 with filter material, the sleeve 1004may serve as a filter for the contents of the bottle 1002, in a similarmanner to the filters described above. Additionally, or alternatively, afilter may be attached to or disposed to form a seal with the interioropening 1022, including any of the types of filters discussed withrespect to the foregoing embodiments (e.g., the filters described inFIGS. 4A-H and 10D-E). As discussed above with reference to filters, thefilter material may also be made of a contaminant scavenging material,such as polyethylene or zeolites. In some embodiments, the sides andinternal opening 1022 of the sleeve 1004 may be perforated or made of afilter material to form a basket for filtering the contents of thebottle 1002.

In an embodiment illustrated by FIG. 10D, the sleeve 1004 may connect tothe bottle 1002 by an external threading 1024 on the bottle 1002 and aninternal threading 1025 on the sleeve 1004, thus extending the sleeve1004 over the lip of the bottle 1002. The threadings 1024 and 1025 maybe configured to fit together such that the sleeve 1004 may be insertedinto the bottle 1002 and connected by the threadings 1024 and 1025 byrotating either or both of the bottle 1002 or the sleeve 1004. In thismanner, the sleeve 1004 may be screwed into the bottle 1002 such that itis held in place by friction between the threadings 1024 and 1025 butmay be removed by application of force in the opposite direction tounscrew the sleeve 1004 from the bottle 1002. In some embodiments, theexternal threading 1024 on the bottle 1002 may be recessed or otherwisedisposed such that the largest cross-sectional radius of the externalthreading 1024 is no greater than the cross-sectional radius of theunthreaded portion of the neck of the bottle 1002 that is adjacent tothe portion of the neck of the bottle 1002 containing the externalthreading 1024. In this manner, the sleeve 1004 may fit over the lip ofthe bottle 1002 in line with the surface of the neck of the bottle 1002.

The bottle 1002 may be further sealed by inserting the stopper 1006 intothe sleeve. As above, the seal ring 1014 may be added between the lip ofthe bottle 1002 and the sleeve 1004 to form a more secure seal forclosing the bottle. As discussed with respect to other illustratedexemplary embodiments, flanges or other means of providing a secure sealmay be used in place of the filter ring 1014, and the placement of thefilter ring 1014 or other sealing means may be varied. For example, aflange might be added to the sleeve 1004 to provide a secure sealbetween the sleeve 1004 and the lip of the bottle 1002 by deformation ofthe flange when pressure is applied. The addition of the seal ring 1014or other sealing means is particularly important in embodiments withoutan internal shoulder, where the contents of the bottle 1002 may seep orflow between the neck of the bottle 1002 and the surface of the sleeve1004.

Also as discussed above, the breaches 1020 and the internal opening 1022of the sleeve may be covered by a filter, mesh, of other covering. Thebreaches 1020 may be holes, slits, perforations, or other breaks in thesurface of a portion of the sleeve 1004 adapted to allow liquid to flowthrough them. In the illustrated embodiment, the breaches 1020 mayinclude a plurality of small holes through a portion of the surface ofthe sleeve 1004 that is inserted into the neck of the bottle 1002. Thebreaches 1020 may further be limited to a portion of the sleeve 1004away from the internal opening 1022, thereby creating a pressuredifferential between the breaches 1020 and the internal opening 1022 tofacilitate the inflow of atmospheric gasses into the bottle 1002 and theoutflow of the contents of the bottle 1002. Such pressure differentialis of particular value when the internal opening 1022 is covered with afilter. In some embodiments, the sleeve 1004 may fit within the bottle1002 without any compression or friction between the bottle 1002 and thesleeve 1004. Some embodiments may further include a gap between thebottle 1002 and the sleeve 1004 to further facilitate the flow of airthrough the breaches 1020 and into the interior of the bottle 1002 whenthe stopper 1006 is removed. By facilitating the flow of air into thebottle, a pressure differential is introduced as discussed above withrespect to other embodiments, and the flow of the contents through theinternal opening 1022. Additionally, or alternatively, the sleeve 1004may include gutters, channels, ridges, or other means of providingpathways or gaps through which gasses or liquids may flow between thebottle 1002 and the sleeve 1004 when the sleeve 1004 is inserted withinthe bottle 1004.

FIG. 10E illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the bottle closuredevice 1000 in which a portion of the sleeve 1004 comprises a perforatedbasket 1005. As illustrated in FIG. 10E, the perforated basket 1005 maybe integrated within the sleeve 1004 and, in some embodiments, may bemade of the same material as the remaining portions of the sleeve 1004.For example, the perforated basket 1005 may comprise a portion of thesleeve 1004 containing numerous small holes or perforations through thesleeve 1004 material, which may act as a sieve or filter. In someembodiments, the perforated basket 1005 may be made of or further coatedwith a contaminant- or oxygen-scavenger material, such as polyethylene,zeolites, ferrous materials, activated carbon, sodium sulfite, sodiumchloride, glucose oxidase, or other enzymes or polymers. Where theperforated basket 1005 is coated with an oxygen scavenger, the coatingmay be only on one side of the sleeve 1004 as an active packagingcomponent, as described above. Also as describe above with respect toFIG. 10D, the sleeve 1004 may fit within the bottle 1002 without anycompression or friction between the bottle 1002 and the sleeve 1004, orthe sleeve 1004 or the bottle 1002 may include gutters, channels,ridges, or other means of producing pathways or gaps through whichgasses or liquids may flow between the bottle 1002 and the sleeve 1004when the sleeve 1004 is inserted within the bottle 1004.

In addition, the sleeve 1004 may connect to the bottle 1002 by anexternal threading 1024 on the bottle 1002 and an internal threading1025 on the sleeve 1004, thus extending the sleeve 1004 over the lip ofthe bottle 1002. The threadings 1024 and 1025 may be configured to fittogether such that the sleeve 1004 may be inserted into the bottle 1002and connected by the threadings 1024 and 1025 by rotating either or bothof the bottle 1002 or the sleeve 1004. In this manner, the sleeve 1004may be screwed into the bottle 1002 such that it is held in place byfriction between the threadings 1024 and 1025 but may be removed byapplication of force in the opposite direction to unscrew the sleeve1004 from the bottle 1002. In some embodiments, the external threading1024 on the bottle 1002 may be recessed or otherwise disposed such thatthe largest cross-sectional radius of the external threading 1024 is nogreater than the cross-sectional radius of the unthreaded portion of theneck of the bottle 1002 that is adjacent to the portion of the neck ofthe bottle 1002 containing the external threading 1024. In this manner,the sleeve 1004 may fit over the lip of the bottle 1002 in line with thesurface of the neck of the bottle 1002.

The bottle 1002 may be further sealed by inserting the stopper 1006 intothe sleeve. As above, the seal ring 1014 may be added between the lip ofthe bottle 1002 and the sleeve 1004 to form a more secure seal forclosing the bottle. As discussed with respect to other illustratedexemplary embodiments, flanges or other means of providing a secure sealmay be used in place of the filter ring 1014, and the placement of thefilter ring 1014 or other sealing means may be varied. For example, aflange might be added to the sleeve 1004 to provide a secure sealbetween the sleeve 1004 and the lip of the bottle 1002 by deformation ofthe flange when pressure is applied. The addition of the seal ring 1014or other sealing means is particularly important in embodiments withoutan internal shoulder, where the contents of the bottle 1002 may seep orflow between the neck of the bottle 1002 and the surface of the sleeve1004. Some embodiments relating to any of FIGS. 10A-E may furtherinclude additional or alternative features, such as internal shoulders,pilfer bands, claddings, or skirts, as discussed elsewhere herein.

Some embodiments of bottle closure devices may not include stoppers,filters, or sleeves. FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of abottle closure device 1100 without a stopper or filter. The exemplaryembodiment includes a cap 1104 with a lining 1108 on its interior side.The cap 1104 may connect to the bottle 1102 by an external threading1106 on the bottle 1102 and an internal threading 1107 on the cap 1104,with the lining 1108 forming a secure seal with the opening of thebottle 1102. To further form a more secure seal, a seal ring 1114 orother means of securing the seal between the bottle 1102 and the cap1104 may be used. The bottle 1102 and the cap 1104 may be connected thusby rotating either or both of the bottle 1102 or the cap 1104 whilecovering the opening of the bottle 1102 with the cap 1104, such that theinternal threading 1107 of the cap 1104 receives the external threading1106 of the bottle 1102. In this manner, the cap 1104 may be screwedaround the threaded portion of the bottle 1102 such that it is held inplace by friction between the threadings 1106 and 1107 but may beremoved by application of force in the opposite direction to unscrew thecap 1104 from the bottle 1102. In some embodiments, other means ofconnecting the cap 1104 to the bottle 1102 may be used, includinginternal threading, tabs, hooks, adhesives, flanges, or teeth.

In addition to forming a more secure seal, the lining 1108 may alsoserve in some embodiments as a barrier to contamination of wine or othercontents stored in the bottle 1102 by TCA or other contaminants. Thelining 1108 may also remove such contaminants from tainted wine or othercontents of the bottle 1102. The lining 1108 may be made in part orwhole of a contaminants scavenger material, such as polyethylene orzeolites, which are scavengers of TCA. In some embodiments, otherscavenger materials may be added or substituted in the lining 1108. Thelining 1108 may be layered onto the interior of the cap 1104, or it maybe affixed to the cap 1104 mechanically or chemically. Alternatively,the lining 1108 may not be affixed to the cap 1104, instead forming afilm, foil, or disk between the bottle 1102 and the cap 1104. Thisexemplary embodiment may be of particular use where space for a filterwithin the bottle 1102 is limited or where filtration may beundesirable.

FIGS. 12A-F illustrate exemplary embodiments of a bottle closure device1200 with a cap 1204 and a filter 1208 but without a stopper. The cap1204 may connect to a bottle 1202 by an external threading 1206 on thebottle 1202 and an internal threading 1207 on the cap 1204 or by othermeans as discussed above. The filter 1208 may be connected to the bottle1202 by a pair of filter rings, including an upper filter ring 1210 anda lower filter ring 1212. The filter rings 1210 and 1212 may be attachedto the bottle 1202 by any means, including internal threadings,adhesives, tabs, flanges, clips, pins, tension, or friction. In someembodiments the filter rings 1210 and 1212 may be combined into onefilter ring that extends along a portion of the neck of the bottle 1202,such that the filter ring and the filter 1208 are held in place withinthe neck of the bottle 1202 by friction or adhesives. Alternatively, oradditionally, internal shoulders, lips, or other features may be builtinto the bottle 1202 to hold the filter 1208 in any manner discussedabove in reference to the other embodiments. In some embodiments, thefilter 1208 may connect to the cap 1204, in addition to or instead ofconnecting to the bottle 1202. Although a planar filter is illustratedin FIG. 12A, any filter may be used, as discussed with respect to theabove embodiments. FIG. 12B illustrates such an exemplary embodiment,wherein the filter 1208 is a curved filter fixed within the neck of thebottle 1202. The filter 1208 introduces a pressure differential tofacilitate fluid flow through the filter 1208 by extending upward intothe neck of the bottle 1202. The exemplary embodiment further includes aventilation tube 1216 to introduce a further pressure differentialacross the filter 1208. FIG. 12C illustrates another such exemplaryembodiment, wherein the filter 1208 is a conical filter extendingdownward from the neck of the bottle 1202 into the interior of thebottle 1202 with a ventilation hole 1214 in the center of the cone tofurther promote flow through the filter 1208. FIG. 12D likewiseillustrates an exemplary embodiment wherein the filter 1208 includes alayer of porous or otherwise permeable material, such as a sponge. Theexemplary embodiment further includes a ventilation tube 1216 tointroduce a pressure differential across for air inlet disposed within afilter base 1218 in the form of a parabolic wedge. Additionally, any ofthe embodiments may include a lining 1220 on the interior of the cap1204. FIG. 12E illustrates an exemplary embodiment including the lining1220, wherein the filter 1208 is a curved filter fixed within the neckof the bottle 1202 and wherein the filter 1208 introduces a pressuredifferential to facilitate fluid flow through the filter 1208 byextending upward into the neck of the bottle 1202.

FIG. 12F illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which the filter 1208connects to the cap 1204. Although the filter 1208 depicted in theexemplary embodiment is similar to the filter 1208 illustrated in FIG.12C (including a ventilation hole 1214), other types or configurationsof filters 1208 may be used in various embodiments. The filter 1208 maybe connected to the cap 1204 by any means, including threadings,adhesives, tabs, flanges, clips, pins, tension, or friction.Additionally, FIG. 12F illustrates a flip cap 1222 connected to the cap1204 to provide a secondary means of opening the bottle 1202. The flipcap 1222 may be connected to the cap 1204 by known means, such ashinges. The flip cap 1222 may include a plug 1224 configured to seal anopening in the cap 1204. The opening in the cap 1204 may provide anadditional method of sealing, unsealing, or resealing the bottle 1202.As illustrated, the opening may be disposed within the cap 1204 in sucha manner that the contents of the bottle 1204 must pass through thefilter 1208 before exiting through the opening in the cap 1204. In someembodiments, the flip cap 1222 may be configured to seal and reseal theopening in the cap 1204 by the plug 1224, or the plug 1224 may beconfigured in a manner such that it cannot be replaced in the opening toreseal the bottle 1202 once removed therefrom. It should further beunderstood that other replaceable or irreplaceable means of closing anopening in the cap 1204 other than the flip cap 1222 may be implementedin accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein, such as screw caps,disks, replaceable stoppers, nozzles, or similar means. Additionally,the bottle 1202 may be opened by removing the entire cap 1204 (includingthe flip cap 1222). Furthermore, in some embodiments, the seal betweenthe bottle 1202 and the cap 1204 may be made more secure by theinclusion of a seal ring 1226 or other means, such as deformableflanges, linings, etc.

In addition to forming a more secure seal, the lining 1220 may alsoserve in some embodiments as a barrier to contamination of wine or othercontents stored in the bottle 1202 by TCA or other contaminants, such asoxygen. The lining 1220 may also remove such contaminants from taintedwine or other contents of the bottle 1202. The lining 1220 may be madein part or whole of a contaminant scavenger material, such aspolyethylene or zeolites, which are scavengers of TCA. As above withrespect to FIG. 11, the lining 1220 may be layered onto the interior ofthe cap 1204, or it may be affixed to the cap 1204 mechanically orchemically. Alternatively, the lining 1220 may not be affixed to the cap1204, instead forming a film, foil, or disk between the bottle 1202 andthe cap 1204. Although FIGS. 12A-F illustrate a variety of filters 1208,other types may also be used as discussed with respect to any of theembodiments above, including the embodiments discussed in connectionwith FIGS. 3-8.

FIGS. 13A-C illustrate embodiments of a bottle closure device 1300similar to the embodiments in FIGS. 12A-C, but the bottle closure device1300 includes a filter 1310 that snaps into place within a bottle 1302.The bottle 1302 is sealed with a cap 1304, which may connect to thebottle 1302 by an external threading 1307 on the bottle 1302 and aninternal threading 1308 on the cap 1304 or by other means as discussedabove. The bottle 1302 and the cap 1304 may be connected thus byrotating either or both of the bottle 1302 or the cap 1304 whilecovering the opening of the bottle 1302 with the cap 1304, such that theinternal threading 1308 of the cap 1304 receives the external threading1307 of the bottle 1302. In this manner, the cap 1304 may be screwedaround the threaded portion of the bottle 1302 such that it is held inplace by friction between the threadings 1307 and 1308 but may beremoved by application of force in the opposite direction to unscrew thecap 1304 from the bottle 1302. In some embodiments, other means ofconnecting the cap 1304 to the bottle 1302 may be used, includinginternal threading, tabs, hooks, adhesives, flanges, or teeth. In someembodiments, the bottle closure device 1300 may further include a lining1306 on the interior side of the cap 1304.

In addition to forming a more secure seal, the lining 1306 may alsoserve in some embodiments as a barrier to contamination of wine or othercontents stored in the bottle 1302 by TCA or other contaminants. Thelining 1306 may also remove such contaminants from tainted wine or othercontents of the bottle 1302. The lining 1306 may be made in part orwhole of a contaminants scavenger material, such as polyethylene orzeolites, which are scavengers of TCA. In some embodiments, otherscavenger materials may be added or substituted in the lining 1306. Thelining 1306 may be layered onto the interior of the cap 1304, or it maybe affixed to the cap 1304 mechanically or chemically. Alternatively,the lining 1306 may not be affixed to the cap 1304, instead forming afilm, foil, or disk between the bottle 1302 and the cap 1304. Thisexemplary embodiment may be of particular use where space for a filterwithin the bottle 1302 is limited or where filtration may beundesirable.

The filter 1310 may snap into place upon the application of force sothat the filter 1310 remains in position to remove particulates andcontaminants from the contents of the bottle 1302 when poured. FIG. 13Aillustrates an embodiment of the bottle closure device 1300 in which thefilter 1310 is connected to the bottle by a rim connector 1320 thatsnaps over the rim of the bottle 1302. The rim connector 1320 is fittedto extend over the rim of the bottle 1302 and secure the filter 1310 inposition by tension or friction. In some embodiments, the rim connector1320 may be further secured by hooking over a ridge, notches, or otherfeatures on the exterior of the rim of the bottle 1302. The filter 1310is then held in position, covering or just within the rim of the bottle1302. Similarly, FIG. 13B illustrates an embodiment of the bottleclosure device 1300 in which the filter 1310 snaps into position withinthe neck of the bottle 1302. The filter 1310 may be held in placeagainst an internal shoulder 1316 to prevent it from dislodging orturning during use. The filter 1310 may be held in place against theinternal shoulder 1316 by tension or friction, and the interior surfaceof the neck of the bottle 1302 may include a depression, a ridge,notches, or other features to further secure the filter 1310 inposition. Alternatively, the filter 1310 may connect to an additionalmeans of securing the filter 1310 in position within the bottle 1302.FIG. 13C illustrates an embodiment of the bottle closure device 1300with one such additional means of securing the filter 1310. The filter1310 is connected to tabs 1322 that hook on to the opposite side of theinternal shoulder from the filter 1310. Although tabs are illustrated inFIG. 13C, it should be understood that other means may be used to holdthe filter 1310 in place, as discussed above with respect to FIGS. 9A-C.Moreover, it should be understood that the filter 1310 may be any typeof filter as discussed with respect to any of the embodiments above,including the embodiments discussed in connection with FIGS. 3-8.

FIGS. 14A-C illustrate exemplary embodiments of a bottle closure device1400 without sleeves. FIG. 14A illustrates a cross section of anexemplary bottle closure device 1400 with a stopper 1406 and a filter1410 disposed within the neck of a bottle 1402 to seal the bottle 1402.The stopper 1406 connects to a stopper cap 1408, which forms a seal witha filter ring 1418. The filter 1410 and a ventilation tube 1420 aredisposed within a filter base 1424. The filter 1410 is disposed withinthe top end of the filter base 1424, adjacent to the stopper cap 1408,and the ventilation tube 1420 is disposed within a wedge-shaped sectionof the filter base 1424 to introduce a pressure differential and airinlet. Other embodiments may include different types of filters or aplurality of ventilation tubes 1420, as discussed above. As in theembodiments discussed above, the stopper cap 1408 or the filter 1410 maybe made in whole or part of a contaminant scavenger material, such aspolyethylene or zeolites, which are scavengers of TCA. Additionally,this may protect the contents of the bottle 1402 from contamination fromthe stopper 1406 or other sources outside the bottle and removecontaminants such as TCA from the stopper 1406 or from tainted wine orother contents stored within the bottle 1402. The filter base 1424 mayrest upon an internal shoulder 1416 of the bottle 1402, and the sealbetween the shoulder 1416 and the filter base 1424 may be made moresecure by the addition of a shoulder ring 1422 made of a pliable orcompressible material. Alternatively, the filter 1410 and the filterbase 1424 may be disposed within the neck of the bottle 1402 without theinternal shoulder 1416, as discussed with respect to FIGS. 12A-F. Toprevent the filter 1410 from dislodging when the stopper 1406 isremoved, the filter 1410 may in some embodiments be directly orindirectly connected to the bottle 1402 (including the internal shoulder1416) by adhesives, tabs, hooks, threading, clips, friction, tension, orother means.

FIG. 14B illustrates a cross section of another exemplary embodiment ofthe bottle closure device 1400, wherein the filter 1410 is a curved meshdisposed within the neck of the bottle 1402. The stopper 1406 isconnected to the stopper cap 1408, which may be fitted to house thefilter 1410 with or without a gap between the stopper cap 1408 and thefilter 1410. The stopper 1406 may be similarly fitted to match the shapeof the filter cap, as illustrated in FIG. 14B. As above, the filter 1410may be directly or indirectly connected to the internal shoulder 1416,and either or both of the stopper cap 1408 and the filter 1410 may bemade of polyethylene, zeolites, or other contaminant scavengermaterials. Alternatively, the filter 1410 may be disposed within theneck of the bottle 1402 without the internal shoulder 1416, as discussedwith respect to FIGS. 12A-F.

FIG. 14C illustrates a cross section of another exemplary embodiment ofthe bottle closure device 1400 without a filter. The stopper 1406 isconnected to the stopper cap 1408 and inserted within the bottle 1402 toform a seal between the stopper cap 1408 and the internal shoulder 1416.As above, the stopper cap 1408 may be made of polyethylene, zeolites, orother contaminant scavenger materials to form a barrier betweencontaminants from the stopper 1406 or other sources outside the bottleand to remove contaminants such as TCA from the stopper 1406 or fromtainted wine or other contents stored within the bottle 1402.Alternatively, the filter 1410 may be disposed within the neck of thebottle 1402 without the internal shoulder 1416, as discussed withrespect to FIGS. 12A-F.

FIGS. 15A-B illustrate exemplary embodiments of a bottle closure device1500 without sleeves or stopper caps. FIG. 15A illustrates a crosssection of the exemplary bottle closure device 1500 with a stopper 1506and a filter 1510 disposed within the neck of a bottle 1502 to seal thebottle 1502. The stopper 1506 forms a seal with a filter ring 1518 andthe filter 1510. The filter 1510 and a ventilation tube 1520 aredisposed within a filter base 1524. The filter 1510 is disposed withinthe top end of the filter base 1524, adjacent to the stopper 1506, andthe ventilation tube 1520 is disposed within a wedge-shaped section ofthe filter base 1524 to introduce a pressure differential and air inlet.Other embodiments may include different types of filters or a pluralityof ventilation tubes 1520, as discussed above. As in the embodimentsdiscussed above, the filter 1510 may be made in whole or part of acontaminant scavenger material, such as polyethylene or zeolites, whichare scavengers of TCA. Additionally, this may protect the contents ofthe bottle 1502 from contamination from the stopper 1506 or othersources outside the bottle and remove contaminants such as TCA from thestopper 1506 or from tainted wine or other contents stored within thebottle 1502. The filter base 1524 may rest upon an internal shoulder1516 of the bottle 1502, and the seal between the shoulder 1516 and thefilter base 1524 may be made more secure by the addition of a shoulderring 1522 made of a pliable or compressible material. To prevent thefilter 1510 from dislodging when the stopper 1506 is removed, the filter1510 may in some embodiments be directly or indirectly connected to thebottle 1502 (including the internal shoulder 1516) by adhesives, tabs,hooks, threading, clips, friction, tension, or other means.Alternatively, the filter 1510 may be disposed within the neck of thebottle 1502 without the internal shoulder 1516, as discussed withrespect to FIGS. 12A-F. Moreover, it should be understood that thefilter 1510 may be any type of filter as discussed with respect to anyof the embodiments above, including the embodiments discussed inconnection with FIGS. 3-8.

FIG. 15B illustrates a cross section of another exemplary embodiment ofthe bottle closure device 1500, wherein the filter 1510 is a curved meshdisposed within the neck of the bottle 1502. The stopper 1506 may befitted to house the filter 1510 with or without a gap between thestopper 1506 and the filter 1510. As above, the filter 1510 may bedirectly or indirectly connected to the internal shoulder 1516, andeither or both of the stopper 1406 and the filter 1510 may be made ofpolyethylene, zeolites, or other contaminant scavenger materials.Alternatively, the filter 1510 may be disposed within the neck of thebottle 1502 without the internal shoulder 1516, as discussed withrespect to FIGS. 12A-F. Moreover, it should be understood that thefilter 1510 may be any type of filter as discussed with respect to anyof the embodiments above, including the embodiments discussed inconnection with FIGS. 3-8.

FIGS. 16A-C illustrate cross sections of an exemplary embodiment of abottle closure device 1600 without a filter. The bottle closure device1600 includes a stopper 1606 disposed within a sleeve 1604 to form aseal to close a bottle 1602. The sleeve 1604 is inserted within thebottle 1602 and may be connected thereto by an internal threading 1612on the bottle 1602 and an external threading 1613 on the sleeve 1604.Although FIGS. 16A-C illustrate the sleeve 1604 connected to the bottle1602 by threadings 1612 and 1613, other means of connecting the bottle1602 and the sleeve 1604 may be used in some embodiments. FIG. 16Aillustrates the stopper 1606 connected to a stopper cap 1608, whichforms a barrier between the stopper 1606 and the contents of the bottle1602. As in the embodiments discussed above, the stopper cap 1608 may bemade of polyethylene, zeolites, or other contaminant scavenger materialsto form a barrier between contaminants such as TCA from the stopper 1606or other sources outside the bottle and to remove contaminants from thestopper 1606 and from tainted wine or other contents stored within thebottle 1602. As with any of the embodiments described herein, thestopper 1606 likewise may not be connected to the stopper cap 1608. FIG.16B illustrates a stopper 1606 without the stopper cap 1608. In someembodiments, the sleeve 1604 may include a ledge 1610 that extendsinward away from the neck of the bottle 1602 to form a more secure sealwith the stopper cap 1608. FIG. 16C illustrates an embodiment withoutthe stopper cap 1608 or the ledge 1610. As illustrated in FIG. 16C, someembodiments may further include an internal shoulder 1616, with whichthe sleeve 1604 forms a seal. As described above with respect to otherembodiments, the seal may be made more secure by the inclusion of ashoulder ring 1622 between the sleeve 1604 and the internal shoulder1616. Also as discussed above, the seal between the bottle 1602 and thesleeve 1604 may be further secured by the inclusion of a seal ring 1614,flanges, or other means of providing a secure seal between the bottle1602 and the sleeve 1604.

Although multiple embodiments such as those described elsewhere hereinwith respect to FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 5A-B, 6, 7A-C, 8A-B, 9A-C, 10A-D, 16A-C,18, 19A-B, and 20 are illustrated with internal threading within thenecks of bottles connected to external threading on the exteriors ofsleeves, other means of connection are envisioned. These other means ofconnection include adhesives, tabs, hooks, clips, flanges, tension,friction, etc. FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a bottleclosure device 1700 with a stopper 1706 disposed within a sleeve 1704 toform a seal to close a bottle 1702. The sleeve 1704 is inserted withinthe bottle 1702 and is connected thereto by an external threading 1712on the bottle 1702 and an internal threading 1713 on the sleeve 1704.The bottle 1702 and the sleeve 1704 may be connected thus by rotatingeither or both of the bottle 1702 or the sleeve 1704 while inserting thesleeve 1704 into the bottle 1702, such that the internal threading 1713of the sleeve 1704 receives the external threading 1712 of the bottle1702. In this manner, the sleeve 1704 may be screwed into the bottle1702 such that it is held in place by friction between the threadings1712 and 1713 but may be removed by application of force in the oppositedirection to unscrew the sleeve 1704 from the bottle 1702. In someembodiments, the external threading 1712 on the bottle 1702 may berecessed or otherwise disposed such that the largest cross-sectionalradius of the external threading 1712 is no greater than thecross-sectional radius of the unthreaded portion of the neck of thebottle 1702 that is adjacent to the portion of the neck of the bottle1702 containing the external threading 1712. In this manner, the sleeve1704 may fit over the lip of the bottle 1702 in line with the surface ofthe neck of the bottle 1702. Although not shown in FIG. 17, it should beunderstood that one or more filters, filter caps, internal shoulders,seals, flanges, or other elements disclosed in the above embodiments maybe included in various embodiments.

It should further be understood that any of the embodiments includingcaps may be connected by means other than a threaded cap fitted over theopening of a bottle such that an internal threading on the cap connectswith an external threading on the bottle. For example, the cap may besecured by internal threading, tabs, hooks, adhesives, flanges, orteeth. FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a bottle closuredevice 1800 wherein an internal threading 1811 on a bottle 1802 receivesan external threading 1812 on a cap 1804. The cap 1804 fits within theopening of the bottle 1802 to create a seal that may be made more secureby the addition of a filter ring 1814, as in the embodiments discussedabove. A filter 1808 may be included in the bottle closure device 1800to remove particulates and other contaminants from the contents of thebottle 1802 when poured. The filter 1808 may further rest upon or beconnected to an internal shoulder 1810, and the filter 1808 may be heldin place by adhesives, tabs, hooks, threading, clips, friction, tension,or other means. Alternatively, the filter 1808 may be disposed withinthe neck of the bottle 1802 without the internal shoulder 1810, asdiscussed with respect to FIGS. 12A-F. Moreover, it should be understoodthat the filter 1808 may be any type of filter as discussed with respectto any of the embodiments above, including the embodiments discussed inconnection with FIGS. 3-8.

The cap 1804 may also include a lining 1806 to as a barrier tocontamination of wine or other contents stored in the bottle 1802 by TCAor other contaminants. The lining 1806 may also remove such contaminantsfrom tainted wine or other contents of the bottle 1802. The lining 1806or the filter 1808 may be made in part or whole of a contaminantscavenger material, such as polyethylene or zeolites, which arescavengers of TCA. As above, the lining 1806 may be layered onto theinterior of the cap 1804, or it may be affixed to the cap 1804mechanically or chemically. Alternatively, the lining 1806 may not beaffixed to the cap 1804, instead forming a film, foil, or disk betweenthe bottle 1802 and the cap 1804.

Similarly, the various rings referenced in several embodiments discussedabove may be replaced in some embodiments by flanges or other means ofcreating a secure seal. FIGS. 19A-B illustrate an exemplary bottleclosure device 1900 with a flange 1920 at the interior edge of a sleeve1904. The sleeve 1904 is inserted within a bottle 1902 and is connectedthereto by an external threading 1912 on the bottle 1902 and an internalthreading 1913 on the sleeve 1904. The bottle 1902 and the sleeve 1904may be connected thus by rotating either or both of the bottle 1902 orthe sleeve 1904 while inserting the sleeve 1904 into the bottle 1902,such that the internal threading 1913 of the sleeve 1904 receives theexternal threading 1912 of the bottle 1902. In this manner, the sleeve1904 may be screwed into the bottle 1902 such that it is held in placeby friction between the threadings 1912 and 1913 but may be removed byapplication of force in the opposite direction to unscrew the sleeve1904 from the bottle 1902. A stopper 1906 is disposed within the sleeve1904, and the stopper 1906 may be connected to a stopper cap 1908. InFIG. 19B, the bottle closure device 1900 further includes a filter 1910to remove particulates and other contaminants from the contents of thebottle 1902 when poured. The filter 1910 may form a seal with theinternal shoulder 1916 by any means described herein, including the useof a filter ring or another flange 1920. Either or both of the stoppercap 1908 or filter 1910 may be made in whole or part of a contaminantscavenger material, such as polyethylene or zeolites, which arescavengers of TCA.

The flange 1920 may be integrated into the sleeve 1904 as a portionthereof or may be affixed to the sleeve 1904 by any known means. In theillustrated embodiment, the flange 1904 is a deformable portion of thesleeve 1904 that extends outward from the sleeve 1904. As the sleeve1904 is fully inserted within the bottle 1902, the flange 1920 meets aninternal shoulder 1916 within the neck of the bottle 1902. Furtherinsertion of the sleeve 1904 into the bottle 1902 causes the flange 1920to deform in response to the opposition of the internal shoulder 1916.This deformation creates a secure seal between the internal shoulder1916 and the flange 1920. Although FIGS. 19A-B illustrate using theflanges 1920 to replace filter rings or shoulder rings, it should beunderstood that the flanges 1920 could likewise be used as analternative to a seal ring to form a more secure seal between the top ofthe sleeve 1904 and the top of the bottle 1902. Additionally, it shouldbe understood that the filter 1910 may be any type of filter asdiscussed with respect to any of the embodiments above, including theembodiments discussed in connection with FIGS. 3-8.

In some embodiments, an additional pilfer band may be added to preventbottles from being accidental or intentional unsealed during storage orshipping. FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a bottleclosure device 2000 for sealing a bottle 2002, including a pilfer band2022. The pilfer band 2022 is connected to a sleeve 2004 by a frangibleconnector 2020, which breaks upon the first removal of the sleeve 2004from the bottle 2002. The pilfer band 2022 thus provides an indicationof the first opening of the bottle 2002 after it has been sealed.Because it requires additional force to break the frangible connector2020, the pilfer band 2022 additionally provides some protection againstthe sleeve 2004 accidentally dislodging from the bottle 2002 duringstorage or transportation.

The sleeve 2004 is inserted within the bottle 2002 and is connectedthereto by an external threading 2012 on the bottle 2002 and an internalthreading 2013 on the sleeve 2004. The bottle 1702 and the sleeve 2004may be connected thus by rotating either or both of the bottle 2002 orthe sleeve 2004 while inserting the sleeve 2004 into the bottle 2002,such that the internal threading 2013 of the sleeve 2004 receives theexternal threading 2012 of the bottle 2002. The sleeve 2004 provides asecure seal for the bottle 2002 in conjunction with a stopper 2006inserted within the sleeve 2004. In some embodiments, the stopper 2006may be connected to a stopper cap 2008. The stopper cap 2008 may fitagainst a filter 2010, disposed within the neck of the bottle 2002 toremove particulates and other contaminants from the contents of thebottle 2002 when poured. In some embodiments, the filter 2010 may reston or be connected to an internal shoulder 2016 within the bottle 2002.Either or both of the stopper cap 2008 or filter 2010 may be made inwhole or part of a contaminant scavenger material, such as polyethyleneor zeolites, which are scavengers of TCA. Additionally, a seal ring 2014or a filter ring 2018 may be also be included in the bottle closuredevice 2000 to more securely seal the bottle 2002.

In some embodiments, the sleeve 2004 may include a cladding 2024 thatprovides a smoother or more aesthetically pleasing exterior of thesleeve 2004. The cladding may be metal (e.g., aluminum), plastic, or anyother material commonly used for such purpose. In embodiments thatinclude the cladding 2024, the cladding 2024 may wrap around theexternal portion of the sleeve 2004 that is visible when the sleeve 2004is disposed within the bottle 2002 and the stopper 2006 is insertedwithin the sleeve 2004. The cladding 2024 may thus be disposed to coveror may serve as the outer surface of the portions of the sleeve 2004containing the internal threading 2013 and the top of the sleeve 2004.In some embodiments, the frangible connector 2020 may connect to thecladding 2024, rather than the sleeve 2004, through the frangibleconnector 2020.

Additionally, or alternatively, the sleeve 2004 or the cladding 2024 mayconnect to a skirt (not shown), which surrounds the neck of the bottle2002. The skirt may further cover a portion of the bottle 2002 beyondthe sleeve 2004 and the pilfer band 2022 for aesthetic and securityreasons. In some embodiments, the skirt may be integrated into orreplace the pilfer band 2022, such that the skirt connects to the sleeve2004 or the cladding 2024 by one or more frangible connectors 2020. Whenthe sleeve 2004 or the cladding 2024 is removed, the frangibleconnectors 2020 may disconnect the skirt from the sleeve 2004 or thecladding 2024, respectively. Thus, the skirt may remain attached to orlocated around the neck of the bottle 2002 when the sleeve 2004 or thecladding 2024 is removed. Therefore, in some embodiments, the skirt maybe connected to the bottle 2002 by adhesives, friction, tensions,flanges, or other means. In some embodiments, the skirt may include aflange (not shown) configured to fit within a receiving channel ordepression (not shown) within the neck of the bottle 2002 to secure theskirt in place. Such flange or other means may further secure the bottle2002 against being inadvertent or intentional unsealed during storage ortransport.

Although the above description is addressed to closure devices forbottles for the sake of clarity, further embodiments may include closuredevices used with other types of containers for liquids, such ascartons, drums, casks, kegs, jars, cans, cases, or jugs. Such otherliquid container may contain any type of liquid, such as beer orchampagne. Some bottles or other containers may include corks or otherstoppers that protrude from the neck of the bottle or container. In someembodiments, such protruding corks or stoppers may be further secured byknown means, including wire restraints configured to hold the cork orstopper in place during storage. Such means may be further reinforced bya covering or wrapping of foil, cloth, wax, or other materials.

FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a liquid containerclosure device 2100 for use in sealing a carton 2102 containing a liquidcontents 2116. The carton 2102 may have multiple distinct surfaces, inwhich an opening may be included for pouring liquids into or out of thecarton 2102. The opening may be reinforced and circumscribed by aprotruding neck 2108, which may in some embodiments instead be recessedwithin the carton 2102. A sleeve 2104 may be inserted within the carton2102 through the producing neck 2108. In some embodiments, the sleeve2104 may further include or be connected to a filter 2110, as discussedabove with respect to any of the other embodiments. In alternativeembodiments, the sleeve 2104 may be replaced by a cap (not shown), whichmay likewise include or be connected to the filter 2110, as discussedabove with respect to any of the other embodiments. The sleeve 2104 (orcap) may include an opening through which the liquid contents 2116 maybe poured, and the opening may be further sealed by a plug 2106. Theplug 2106 may be a removable stopper, a disk, a removable sheet or film,or any other type of removable seal. In various embodiments, the plug2106 may seal the opening by friction, compression, tension, adhesion,or other means. The plug 2106 may further screw into the sleeve 2104 (orcap) or may snap in, be pressed in, or be sealed with an adhesive aroundthe edge of the opening to form a secure seal. In some embodiments, theplug 2106 may be replaceable to reseal the carton 2102.

The sleeve 2104 (or cap) may be connected to the protruding neck 2108 byan external threading 2112 on the protruding neck 2108 and an internalthreading 2113 on the sleeve 2104. The protruding neck 2108 and thesleeve 2104 may be connected thus by rotating either or both of theprotruding neck 2108 (which may include rotating the carton 2102) or thesleeve 2104 while inserting the sleeve 2104 into the protruding neck2108, such that the internal threading 2113 of the sleeve 2104 receivesthe external threading 2112 of the protruding neck 2108. In this manner,the sleeve 2104 may be screwed onto the protruding neck 2108 such thatit is held in place by friction between the threadings 1712 and 1713 butmay be removed by application of force in the opposite direction tounscrew the sleeve 2104 from the protruding neck 2108. It should beunderstood that the sleeve 2104 (or cap) may instead connect to theprotruding (or recessed) neck 2108 by an external threading on thesleeve 2104 configured to screw into an internal threading on theprotruding neck 2108. It should be further understood that one or moreinternal shoulders, seals, flanges, pilfer bands, claddings, skirts, orother elements disclosed in the above embodiments may be included invarious embodiments.

Throughout this specification, plural instances may implementcomponents, operations, or structures described as a single instance.Structures and functionality presented as separate components inexemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure orcomponent. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a singlecomponent may be implemented as separate components. These and othervariations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within thescope of the subject matter herein.

As used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment”means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in variousplaces in the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment.

Some embodiments may be described using the expression “coupled” and“connected” along with their derivatives. For example, some embodimentsmay be described using the term “coupled” to indicate that two or moreelements are in direct physical contact. The term “coupled,” however,may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact witheach other, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. Theembodiments are not limited in this context.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary,“or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example,a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true(or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or notpresent) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (orpresent).

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elementsand components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely forconvenience and to give a general sense of the description. Thisdescription, and the claims that follow, should be read to include oneor at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it isobvious that it is meant otherwise.

Although the preceding text sets forth a detailed description ofnumerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legalscope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forthat the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construedas exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment, asdescribing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if notimpossible. One could implement numerous alternate embodiments, usingeither current technology or technology developed after the filing dateof this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown forpurposes of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various changes in the methods and apparatusdisclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention.

It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined inthis patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ ishereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intentto limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication,beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not beinterpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in anysection of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To theextent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent isreferred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning,that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader,and it is not intended that such claim term be limited, by implicationor otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element isdefined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recitalof any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim elementbe interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112(f).

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid container closure device for closing aliquid container, comprising: a sleeve fitted to insert into an openingof the liquid container; and a stopper fitted to insert into the sleeve,wherein the combination of the sleeve and the stopper forms a removableseal to close the liquid container when inserted into the opening of theliquid container.
 2. The liquid container closure device of claim 1,wherein the liquid container may be opened by either (i) removing thestopper alone or (ii) removing both the sleeve and the stopper.
 3. Theliquid container closure device of claim 2, wherein at least a portionof the sleeve comprises at least one of: an oxygen scavenger or a TCAscavenger.
 4. The liquid container closure device of claim 2, wherein atleast a portion of the sleeve comprises at least one of: polyethylene,zeolites, a ferrous material, activated carbon, sodium sulfite, sodiumchloride, or glucose oxidase; and wherein the portion of the sleeve isexposed to the contents of the liquid container only upon removal of thestopper.
 5. The liquid container closure device of claim 1, furthercomprising a seal between the sleeve and a portion of the liquidcontainer, wherein the seal comprises at least one of the following: adeformable ring, a gasket, an adhesive layer, or a flange.
 6. The liquidcontainer closure device of claim 1, further comprising at least one ofthe following: a filter or an aerator.
 7. The liquid container closuredevice of claim 6, wherein the filter comprises one or more of thefollowing: a mesh, a sieve, a membrane, a lattice, a basket, a cloth, ora sponge.
 8. The liquid container closure device of claim 6, wherein thefilter further comprises one or more of the following: a spring, aventilation tube, a ventilation mechanism, or a mechanism applyingtension to the filter.
 9. The liquid container closure device of claim6, wherein at least a portion of the filter comprises at least one of:polyethylene, zeolites, a ferrous material, activated carbon, sodiumsulfite, sodium chloride, or glucose oxidase.
 10. The liquid containerclosure device of claim 1, wherein the sleeve includes an interioropening configured to receive the stopper, and wherein at least oneportion of the interior opening has a cross-sectional area lesser thanthe cross sectional area of another portion of the interior opening. 11.The liquid container closure device of claim 1, wherein: the liquidcontainer further comprises a neck; and the sleeve is further fitted toinsert into the neck.
 12. The liquid container closure device of claim11, wherein: the neck further comprises a threaded portion on theexterior of the neck; the sleeve further comprises a threaded portion ofthe sleeve; and the threaded portion of the sleeve and the threadedportion on the exterior of the neck are configured to removably connectthe sleeve to the liquid container by fitting together the threadedportions.
 13. The liquid container closure device of claim 12, whereinthe neck further comprises an unthreaded portion adjacent to thethreaded portion on the exterior of the neck, and wherein the maximumcross-sectional radius of the threaded portion on the exterior of theneck does not exceed the maximum cross-sectional radius of theunthreaded portion of the neck.
 14. The liquid container closure deviceof claim 12, wherein the sleeve contains one or more breaches configuredto permit liquid to flow between the interior and exterior of the sleevewithin the neck.
 15. The liquid container closure device of claim 14,wherein the one or more breaches are covered with a filter materialcomprising one or more of the following: a mesh, a sieve, a membrane, alattice, a cloth, or a sponge.
 16. The liquid container closure deviceof claim 14, wherein the one or more breaches include a plurality ofperforations facilitating ventilation across the sleeve, and wherein theplurality of perforations are disposed within a portion of the sleeveforming a basket.
 17. The liquid container closure device of claim 11,further comprising a pilfer band connected to the sleeve by one or morefrangible connectors, wherein removing the sleeve from the neck breaksthe one or more frangible connectors and disconnects the pilfer bandfrom the sleeve.
 18. The liquid container closure device of claim 17,further comprising a cladding surrounding an external portion of thesleeve that is outside the liquid container when the sleeve is insertedwithin the neck.
 19. The liquid container closure device of claim 11,wherein: the neck further comprises a threaded portion on the interiorof the neck; the sleeve further comprises a threaded portion on theexterior of the sleeve; and the sleeve is fitted to insert into the necksuch that the threaded portion on the exterior of the sleeve fits withinthe threaded portion on the interior of the neck.
 20. The liquidcontainer closure device of claim 11, wherein the neck further comprisesan internal shoulder, which internal shoulder comprises a ledge withinthe neck protruding from the interior surface of the neck.
 21. Theliquid container closure device of claim 20, further comprising afilter, wherein: the filter is connected to the internal shoulder by oneor more of the following: adhesive, tabs, hooks, threading, clips,flanges, friction, or tension; the filter is further connected to thesleeve by one or more frangible connectors; and the one or morefrangible connectors cause the filter and the sleeve to decouple whenthe sleeve is removed from the neck.
 22. A liquid container closuredevice for closing a liquid container, comprising: a removable capfitted to seal an opening of the liquid container; and a lining fittedto form a barrier between the interior of the removable cap and theinterior of the liquid container, wherein at least a portion of thefilter comprises at least one of: an oxygen scavenger or a TCAscavenger; wherein the combination of the removable cap and the liningforms a removable seal to close the liquid container.
 23. The liquidcontainer closure device of claim 22, further comprising a filter,wherein the filter further comprises one or more of the following: amesh, a sieve, a membrane, a lattice, a basket, a cloth, or a sponge.24. The liquid container closure device of claim 23, further comprisinga second removable cap fitted to seal an opening in the removable cap,wherein the filter is connected to the removable cap.
 25. The liquidcontainer closure device of claim 23, wherein: the liquid containerfurther comprises a neck; and the filter is further disposed within theneck.
 26. The liquid container closure device of claim 25, wherein thefilter is connected to the neck by one or more of the following: anadhesive, a tab, a hook, a threading, a clip, a flange, or by frictionor tension between the filter and the neck.
 27. A liquid containerclosure device for closing a liquid container, comprising: at least oneof (i) a removable cap or (ii) a removable stopper, fitted to seal anopening of the liquid container; and a filter, wherein the filter isdisposed within a neck of the liquid container.
 28. The liquid containerclosure device of claim 27, wherein the filter comprises one or more ofthe following: a mesh, a sieve, a membrane, a lattice, a basket, acloth, or a sponge.
 29. The liquid container closure device of claim 27,wherein the filter further comprises one or more of the following: aspring, a ventilation tube, a ventilation mechanism, or a mechanismapplying tension to the filter.
 30. The liquid container closure deviceof claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the filter comprises at leastone of: polyethylene or zeolites.